After four days of relay jumps across Citadel space the Normandy arrived at the Nubian Expanse. Now came the hard part. The target system was nearly two weeks of FTL travel away.
Commander Shepard kept a close eye on her new X.O. The man was respectful, strong, skilled and willing to follow any order, but not blindly. His military lineage surpassed her own, and his record showed him making the same kind of decisions that she would under the same circumstances. Most of their conversations centered around war stories, but Shep made an effort to show interest in other matters. Right now she was watching him lean over on a table in the cargo bay and examine the arsenal that had been brought onboard by the numerus guards and marines.
"I swear by the Goddess, Quarians have the best asses in the galaxy."
The whisper startled Shep from her musings. Next to her stood Matriarch Phaeldra D'aris. As golden aged Asari go D'aris was exceptionally hands on; she spent time mingling with both crew and reps alike. She called herself an over aged maiden. Her sporadic bouts of dancing, sparring sessions with the Turian soldiers and an impromptu drinking contest reinforced her statement.
Kal'Reegar was in fact very well built, at least in what she could discern from his shape. The ship locked people were more narrow than humans. No doubt under all that red and white was a sleek frame of military grade muscle.
"Here I thought your reason for joining this mission was overcharging our new friends for cheap Eezo toys, not melding with everyone on board the ship."
D'aris gave a mock look of offence. "You silly lesser races. Always mistaking the Asari's most wonderful gift as a simple act of animalistic lust.' Her voice was playfully aloof.
"I looked up your extranet profile. You have a daughter for each race. The youngest is twenty-six." To Shep's amazement the matriarch's face went several shades darker. "Holy crap you actually do. I was just messing with you because of the number."
"Not unusual. Many Asari reproduce with multiple species during their Matron stage. Phaeldra's extended breeding cycle is likely do to her non-standard maturation."
Nardar Julon the head Salarian biologist walked over from a storage container carrying a small bag of what looked like sawdust. The burnt lime colored amphibian was well kept. Often wearing a three piece suit complete with a bowtie.
"Apologies if I am intruding. Heard 'mission' and decided to listen."
"Hey Doc. So you've seen every race naked?" Shep just had to know.
"Yes, and before you ask my last Quarian was about four centuries ago. I'm not sure what they look like now. The Volus I can't say; the kook had me sign a non-disclosure agreement." This earned her a pair of laughs.
"Volus enjoy the fact that other races do not know their true appearance. Find conspiracy theories humerus. Several low budget horror vids. Quite well produced."
"Sur'kesh-clan is accurate. Our kind has grown use to the mystique of going unseen." Almost on cue a Volus who's suit could best be described as formal, waddled over from the elevator. Behind him a pair of Eclipse mercs carried out a large black comm-buoy. "Put it over by the othe gifts." He instructed over his shoulder.
Evast raun won the right to be the Volus reprovenitave by way of recommendations from numerous banks and trade good companies. Evast's family export business had been on the ready to file for bankruptcy due to his father's many gambling debts. After the elder man's arrest for insider trading. Fourteen long years and a dedicated customer base later, Evast had done the impossible; Not only had the debts been repaid but the company was now one of the largest of its kind.
"That should be the last item on the shuttle cargo list." The small alien marked of a box on his datapad. "Next is, ah yes. You're Nardar correct? The pilot asked that you please talk to one of your researchers. He keeps going on about what we'll discover at our destination."
"One minute forty three seconds early. Gaelis is building tolerance faster than expected." The Salarian held up the bag. "Galmasa root shavings. Used to make a tea with mild sedative properties." The dapper amphibian speed walked to the elevator.
"Last is. Commander Shepard. The cook says that your special order was almost done."
"Yes! I haven't had real beef ribs in months." Grabbing the Asari's hand Shep jogged behind Nardar. "Come on you have got to try these."
"Beef comes from cows right? Is that the black and white ungulate with stripes or spots?"
"Hold the door Earth-clan. Much still needs to be done by me and mine on the engineering deck."
Packed into an elevator with oddball aliens, chatting about nothing important, with a gun on her hip. Shepard felt like she had found another piece of normality. The Commander hoped that this would be the crew she connected with, and it seemed to be going that way. Maybe the pressure of stopping Saren drove a wedge between her the others. That would not happen this time. This shakedown run would be different. No Reapers. No beacons. No crazy cyborg Turians.
Night cycle. The cargo bay was empty, dark and quiet, save for a single beam of light and a computerized stuttering.